Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, St. Peters, MO

I’m in hotels about 40 nights a year for work, and this place has everything I need for half what I’d spend at a higher-end hotel. It’s easy to get to, there’s lots of parking, the rooms are quiet and extremely clean, and the furniture and linens feel high quality. The heating and air work well, the free breakfast is good and high in protein, and the coffee is strong and fresh. Service is responsive, too. No drama. I also appreciate that the staff are always busy helping guests. As a business owner, I know the cost of staff sitting around on their phones or chatting gets built into the price. I’ve seen plenty of that at other local hotels, which cost twice as much. I’ll be back.

During the three-hour power outage, the exit lights on the third floor weren’t working, and no staff could be found to check on guests or explain what to do. The bathroom sink area also had no GFCI outlets. It was hard to get anyone at the front desk in person, and they rarely answered the phone.

The room was filthy, with thick dust everywhere and a long brown hair on the pillow when I opened the bed. Dust kept blowing from the bathroom vent during our two-day stay and settled over everything. The hotel also rents rooms to people who live there; one resident sat outside his door yelling at anyone who walked past. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

This didn’t feel like a Courtyard hotel to me, more like a Comfort Inn or Quality Inn. The breakfast was unsanitary and there was nothing worth eating, so I gave up and had McDonald’s for three days. If this is what you serve, don’t say breakfast is included.